The Day Paradise Burned

The 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, resulted in 85 deaths and the destruction of over 18,000 structures, highlighting vulnerabilities in fire-resilient design and urban planning in wildfire-prone areas. This paper explores the factors contributing to the fire’s devastating impact, including inadequate evacuation routes, wind-driven ember storms, and insufficient fire-prevention measures. It examines how fire-resistant materials, defensible space, and building design affect the survival of structures. The study underscores the need for improved building codes, better urban planning, and stronger fire safety strategies to protect communities in the wildland-urban interface.